Illinois eager to put away scandal, kick off season

Anthony Souffle / Chicago Tribune

"It's been crazy," Illinois offensive lineman Teddy Karras said of the offseason. "We've seen a lot of stuff here, especially the seniors. We're ready to go. Campus is buzzing a little bit. We're excited."

"It's been crazy," Illinois offensive lineman Teddy Karras said of the offseason. "We've seen a lot of stuff here, especially the seniors. We're ready to go. Campus is buzzing a little bit. We're excited."

A week ago, Illinois players received an early afternoon text message alerting them to a mandatory players meeting.

They knew something was brewing. Finding out shortly after that coach Tim Beckman had been fired was certainly jarring, but the players said getting such news so soon before the opener hasn't derailed them.

The Illini are taking an all-news-is-good-news approach as they kick off the season under the Memorial Stadium lights Friday against Kent State.

"We feel like there's an added buzz to the whole thing with Friday night and with everything that's happened," senior offensive lineman Teddy Karras said. "It's been crazy. We've seen a lot of stuff here, especially the seniors. We're ready to go. Campus is buzzing a little bit. We're excited."

The Illini hope to build off last season's improvement, which saw them finish 6-7 and play in a bowl game for the first time in three seasons.

The players said Kent State, which went 2-9 last season, can be a statement game. They're eager to prove a tumultuous offseason — in which the program was scrutinized by a law firm the university hired to investigate claims of player mistreatment, leading to Beckman's firing — hasn't taken their goals out of focus.

"From the start of camp till now feels like three months," Karras said. "I can't wait to go."

Illinois is trying to generate a more positive buzz around the program.

The university is unveiling "Grange Grove," which it describes as a "high-energy tailgating area." The prime-time Big Ten Network game could make for a more lively environment at Memorial Stadium, which has often been sparsely filled the last few years.

Illinois football has just endured one of its most painful offseasons in school history.

But even with all the turmoil, the regular season isn't likely to compare to the horrid 1997 campaign.

The downhill run started on Sept. 6, 1997, Ron Turner's debut as head coach.

"Everybody was anxious to...

Illinois football has just endured one of its most painful offseasons in school history.

But even with all the turmoil, the regular season isn't likely to compare to the horrid 1997 campaign.

The downhill run started on Sept. 6, 1997, Ron Turner's debut as head coach.

"Everybody was anxious to...

(Tim Bannon)

Interim coach Bill Cubit, promoted from offensive coordinator after Beckman's firing, said the Illini won't be the only ones looking to make a statement as Kent State goes for an upset.

"I always look at how they played a game than the end result," said Cubit, who coached in the Mid-American Conference at Western Michigan. "They lost a lot of close games. It's a chance for them to open up against a Big Ten opponent. I've been there a lot. You have a little chip on your shoulder and want to make a statement."

Cubit said the Illini have shown poise during the transition from Beckman. Now it's time to compete.

"The initial reaction was important," he said. "There's a little adversity there. Our job is to present a plan."